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Sustain local textile industry… stakeholders appeal at Weaving Festival
• Some weavers displayed their products
Eager to sustain local industries in the country, the Nubuke Foundation, a private Visual Art and Cultural Institution has opened the 2023 Woori (Weaving) Festival with a call on the public to support in keeping the local textile industry in operation by patronising their products.
The Woori festival is organised yearly to celebrates the weaving and artisanal skills and practices of the people in the Upper West Region and also create a platform for networking, fashion, trading opportunities for participants, traditional music and dance and also promote local dishes.
The Director of the Nubuku Foundation Ms. Odile Tevie, who addressed patriots at the third edition of the festival at Loho in the Nadowli-Kaleo District of the Upper West Region, said the festival was aimed at showcasing the weaving industry as the wealth of the region and also to portray Wa as the region’s weaving capital.
“Weavers are passionate about seeing increased development in their communities, they provide opportunities for school drop-outs and also reduce migration of the youth, therefore I appeal to all to recognise this and work with them to bring economic empowerment to the society,” she said.
She believed that the unique weaving and clay culture of the region was one of the anchors of economic growth for families and communities’ particularly women.
She said over the years, the Foundation through its partners had provided training for the weavers to enable them to expand their skills, adopt and employ innovation and explore market opportunities by connecting them to peer networks within Ghana, Mali, Cote d’ Ivoire and other places.
“In keeping with the idea of independence, the festival highlights the diverse innovation and creativity taking place within the weaving communities and schools, especially in Wa, Nadowli, and Nandom,” she said.
She said the Foundation hoped to stimulate economic transformation within the region with the support of the European Union and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) Secretariat, in partnership with the Arts in West Africa (AWA), an ACP-EU Culture Programme, and the Centre Culturelle Kore and Institut Francais.
The Regional Director for Tourism, Mr. Moses Ndebugri, said his outfit was working together with other partners to promote the creative arts industry and the domestic tourism industry.
“The Ministry recognises the fact that weaving, clay pottery, fashion, food , customs, music and the dance showcased today explicitly depict among others, your way of life which you have promoted locally and internationally,” he said.
From Rafia Abdul Razak Wa
Entertainment
Demolition of Fantasy Dome unfair — Mark Okraku-Mantey
Months after the Fantasy Dome was dismantled to make way for construction at the Ghana International Trade Fair site, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Mark Okraku-Mantey, has expressed concern over the manner the facility was destroyed.
In an interview on Daybreak Hitz with Andy Dosty, Mr Okraku-Mantey criticised the handling of the dome’s dismantling, suggesting that it could have been done without causing damage.
“I don’t think that leadership gave instructions that they should do what happened. The structure was a prefab but I hear the people destroyed it. That one, we cannot defend it. It is unfair to him (owner). Sometimes, you give instructions and people will go and do things that will make you look bad,” he stated.
When asked about any punitive measure against the workers responsible for the destruction, Mr Okraku-Mantey clarified that the Trade Fair does not fall under his ministry.
He said he had previously contacted the owner, Leslie Quaynor, to discuss relocating the dome, and even suggested the National Museum as a potential site, though it was too small.
The demolition of the 20,000-seater Fantasy Dome occurred on March 16, 2024.
According to Dr Agnes Adu, CEO of the Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited, the action was taken after multiple notices were given to Quaynor to vacate the premises for redevelopment, as per their tenancy agreement.
Dr Adu noted that all previous tenants had complied except for the Fantasy Dome.
Quaynor, in an interview with JoyNews, confirmed that his lease had ended, and was in the process of relocating the dome.
He had requested an extension, which was denied, leading him to seek a writ and an injunction from an Accra High Court to halt the demolition.
Despite this, the demolition proceeded, causing significant damage to the structure.
Quaynor described the incident as a major setback, not only for his business but also for the entertainment industry, which relies on venues like the Fantasy Dome.
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Youth urged to take proactive stance on ozone depletion
•Mr Joseph Amankwah, first counting from, some officials from EPA and UNDP in group picture with the student
Mr Joseph Amankwah, the Director of Ozone Layer and Climate Change at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has urged the youth to take a proactive stance on issues related to ozone depletion, emphasising that their future would be most affected by its consequences.
Speaking during a student engagement event at the Ghana Secondary School (GHANASS) in Koforidua, he highlighted the critical role young people played in tackling climate-related challenges.
Mr Amankwah explained that human activities, such as the use of certain chemicals, were significantly contributing to the depletion of the ozone layer and driving climate change.
He said it was important to educate the youth on these issues, encouraging them to share this knowledge with their families to foster a broader understanding and active participation in climate action.
He urged the education sector to integrate lessons on the ozone layer, the causes of its depletion, and its links to climate change into the curriculum.
The event, organised by the EPA in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was designed to foster environmental awareness and promote a sense of responsibility among young people.
Mr Amankwah noted that ozone layer depletion was affecting everyone, including children, as it alters weather patterns and threatens the natural environment.
He highlighted the need for young people to develop ‘green skills’ to adapt to the challenges of climate change and to understand ways to combat it.
He added that World Ozone Day, observed every September, would focus on youth engagement in environmental issues, to help them understand the long-term consequences of ozone depletion and climate change.
Mr Amankwah also discussed the harmful impact of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), a major chemical contributor to ozone depletion.
He explained that household appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioners were common sources of CFC emissions in Ghana.
Many uncertified technicians work on these appliances, often releasing harmful chemicals into the atmosphere due to improper handling, he noted.
To address this, he urged appliance repairers to obtain proper certification and training, emphasising that unqualified repairs not only harm the environment but also endangered public health.
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman,
Koforidua
